Antipanic-lock-operating mechanism



Aug. 31, 1926.

W. B. BOLLES ANTIPANIC LOCK OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 15, 1923 v 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I Ill/ll/f I O lI/A all/till Aug. 31, 1926. 1,598,117

. w. B. BOLLE.S

ANTIPANIC LOCK OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2-rill!!! /A granule c idatented 3i, i irld.

STATE 'ILLIAlVI B. BOIQLEEB, Q13 'MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ANTIPANIOLQCK-QPERATIN G MECHANISM.

Application filed December 15,1923.

This invention relates to anti-panic lock operating mechanisms and moreparticularly to the lock operating devices adapted to be applied to theordinary type of door locks and latches and to provideready eXit at alltimes.

The present inventionis an improvement over the invention disclosedin myco-pending application, Serial No. 572,178, filed July 1, 1922, and isin part a continuation of said application.

In mycopending application above referred to I have disclosed a leveractuated lock operator in which the action of the ac tuating lever iscushioned to protect both the lock actuating mechanism and the mechanismof the lock against excessive shock due to violent actuations ofthe-level or application of excessive force thereto.

In the various modifications of the invention disclosed in saidapplication the casing of the lock actuating mechanism Was shown securedtothe door in a position overlying the lock casing and attached to thedoor above and below the casing. This mounting of the lock actuatingmechanism prevented the use of this device with locks of the type havingcylinders projecting to opposite sides of the faces of the doorforlocking and unlocking from the inside as \vellas the outside. .ihepresent invention has for an object to provide a lock actuatingmechanism adapted to be secured to the door at one side of the lockcasing and clear of any inner lock cylinder of the lock, permitting theuse of: the lock actuating device with doors having locks operable fromeither the outside or inside.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a lock actuatingmechanism of the double acting type in which the actuating lever nay bemoved in either direction from a neutral position to release thelockandto provide a cushioning device adapted to cushion the action of thelever in either diin-echanism attached thereto.

fragmentary edge :GlBVllZlOIl show ng -;the

door, door lat-chand lock-actuating mechanism, a portiono'f thedoor andlock actuator being broken away illO zShOW the look actuating mechanismiii-section. F ig. 3 is ;a fragmentary front elevation not ;a portion ofthe door shoWin-gthe lock and a portion of the lock actuator, a portionof theiactuator being broken away iandshoavn in section. Fig. 4 isa'rear elevation of the actuator detached fromthe door. and 6 are detailviews showing an auxiliary. lever counterbalancing spring. Fi'g. '7 isan edge view similar to Fig. '2 showing a lockactuating mechanism ;ofthe double acting type. Fig. 8 is airear elevation of the .actuatordetached from the door. Fig.9 is a detail viewv oftheactuatorslide-With; apor- .tion broken away and shown insection.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shoiv-sa door-1, which ishinged anld mountedbetvveen the usual door jamlosEZ. In the edge of thedoor there is-mortised a lock casing 3, this lockibeingof a-well knowntypeavhichanay be purchased on the .open market. The doorlockconsistsyofa latch 4. which projects from the edge of the lock casing andis adaptedto-be locked by suitable mechanism .W'ltlllll the lock casing inprojecting posit-ion to .lock the door against opening. The -doorlock isprovided wvith. a trip member :6, Which-When moved in an upwarddirection is adapted torelease the latch locking mechanismaand: operate:the latch to permit the jdoorto open.

The ;-lock actuating -mechanism forming the subject matter of. thepresent invention as mounted Wltllln. a suitable 'cas1ng;'7.,;-ivh1ch'is provided adJa-centtothe lower corners thereof andiat the sidesthereofetpoints spaced downwardly from. the; uppeiw-endof the casingWith screw receiving bosses 8,

ing 7 into a recess 11. formed in the door.

adjacent to the lower edge of the lock casing. Thls projection 10co-a'cts with the trip member 6 of the lock to release the latch i.

'The slide 9 actuates the doorlock when it the outer face of the casing7.

is moved in an upward direction andis normallyheld in a position inwhich the pro- 14301510111015 in the lower portion of the recess 11,free of the trip member 6, by means of a compression spring 12 which ismounted within a recess 18 in the upper end of the slide'9. The spring12 as shown in Figs. 2, and 4 may be entirely within the recess 13 andmay engage at its upper end with a plunger 14 which is loosely andslidably mounted outlieupper end of the recess 13 the and bears againstthe upper end wall of actuator casing 7. "Beneath the spring cess 13 theslide 9 is provided with an "elongated, rectangular slot 15 in which isslidably mounted a block 16, which is inserted beneath a coil spring 17,which iits between the side walls of tllG SlOl] and bears at its upperend against the upper end oi the slot'and at its lower end upon theupper face of the block 16. The lower "face of the block 16 is pressedby the spring 1'? against a projection 19 or" a lever 20, which ispivotedat 21 to a boss 22 formed upon The projecting portion 19 oi 'thelever 20 is normally held against the lower end of the slot 15 in theslide 9 by the spring pressed block 16. The lever 20 is normally held bythe slide 9 in a' position in which its outer end is somewhat belowthe'pivot'21 and its up- 'ard movement is limited by the upper portionof the boss 22. From this position the lever 20 may be swung downwardlytoward the face of the door to move the slide 9 upwardly to release thelock. end thelever 20 may be provided with a boss At its outer '23adapted to'receive a push bar 24 which extends horizontally along theinner side oi the door andis connected at its opposite hen the end toanarm 25 which correspondsto the outer portion of the lever 20 and whichis pivoted. to a bracket 26 fixed to the inner ures 2. 3 and i of thedrawing.

actuating mechanism will both be protected by reason of the yielding ofthe spring 17 which will permit the slide 16 to move upwardly in theslot 15 until the lever 20 reaches its limit of movement, thuscushioning-the action of the lever 20 and preventing excessive andsudden pressures being trans- 1 mitted fIOlll the slide to the lockmechanism and protecting the actuating parts of the lock operatingmechanism against injury.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing I have shown an auxiliary spring forcounterbalancing the actuating lever which may assist or replace thereturn spring 12 shown in Fig In this modificationthe push bar carryingarm 25 connecting the push bar to the door adjacent to the hinge isreplaced by a lever 25, on which is a projection 19 similar toprojection 19 of the lever 20 which extends into a casing 26*, whichreplaces the bracket 25 shown'in Figure 1. ithin the casing 26% there ismounted a vertical movable slide 27 which has a. slot formed to receivethe projecting portion 19* of the lever. The

slide 27 is pressed in a downward direction per end of the slide 27 andthe upper end of the casing; Spring 28 serves to atleast partiallycounterbalance the weight or" evers 25 and 20 and push bar 2% andassists holding them in theiruppermost position. The auxiliary springassists in retaining the lever 111 its uppermost position and permitsthe use of a smaller return spring for the actuator slide. If desiredthe sprin 8. may

be made strong enough to entirely replace the actuator return spring inthe main casing. However, it is preferred to employ both springs so thatthe swinging push bar is counterbalanced at both ends.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawing I have shown a modification of theinvention in which the lock actuating mechanism is double acting, theactuating lever being movable from a neutral position in eitherdirection to release the door lock. In this modification the lockactuating mechanism is Mounted within tlie casing 30 there is .avertically movableslide 31 which has lateral projection 32 adjacent toits upper end whichpro ectsthrough a slot in the inner wall of thecasing intothe recess 11 of the door and is adapted toco-operate withthetrip member Got the lockin exactly the same manner as the projectionThe in the modification first described. sl1de 311s pressed downwardlyin the casing bymeansof a compressionrcoil spring 33 whichis seated inarecess 34 formed in the upper end of the slide 31 andbears at its upperend against the upper end ofthe casing 30. The slide 31 is provided withan elongated notch 35 which accommodates movable parts of thelockactuating mechanism. The actuatinglever 36 has a projection 37 whichextends into thenotch and engages with operating members for the slidewhich will now be described. Adjacent to the upper end of the notch 35there is atransverse lever 38 which is pivoted centrally at 39 to thefront wall of the casing 30. The lever 38 extends transversely acrossthe slide 31 and has pivoted to its ends -depending links 40 and41'whichlie along opposite sides of the slide 31. The link 40 maybe providedwith a bearingolflguide roller :42 at. its lower endengaging-a sidewallof the casing and has adjacent to its'lower end :a foot portion 43 whichprojects inwardly into the notch 35 of. the slide. The link41 hasaprojection 44 projecting inwardly therefrom and lying within-the notch35 of the slide above the foot piece 43 ofthe link 40,'the projection 44being above the: projecting portion 37 of the lever and thefoot piece 43being below thesaid portion of the lever. The slide 31 has a lateralprojection-45which ex tends into a slot 46 inthelink 41loe low'th-eprojection 44. The lower end portion of the link41 is reeessedandacompressioncoil spring 47 is interposed between the projection 45 oftheslide and the lower-end of the link. The spring 47 reacting betweenthe projection 45and thelower end of:the link 41 tends to force thelink-41 downwardly and the downward movement ofthe link41 tends to swinglever .38 about its pivot 39 "and moves the link 40 upwardly. The'spring47 thus serves to normallypress the projections 43 and 44 of the linksagainst opposite sides of the projection 3701 the operating lever 36.The slide 31 is normally'heldby the spring in a position iii-which thelever is intermediate its upper and lower limits of movement, so thatthe lever 36 maybe-ac t-uated in either direction from its normal orneutral position. Ifthelever 361s swung downwardly the projectingportion 37- thereof will be moved upwardly engaging the projection 44and carryingthe li-nk 41-iupwardly. As the link 41 moves npwardly,

upward pressure will be exerted vupon the slide 31 through thecompression--spr1ng i47,

causing the-slide '31 to move upwardly to lift .link 41 willcausepressuretobe exerted on the-:slide31 through the compression spring47 and willthus cause the release of the lock in exactlythe same way asupon the downward movement -of the lever. When the lever 36 ismoved ineither direction the two links 40- and-41. are caused to move indownward and upward directions respectively, the same result beingobtained by the action of the lever upon the projection 43 as by theaction of theleverupon the projection 44. Thecoilspring 47 is preferablystronger than the return spring 33 of the slide so that in: normaloperation there will be no yielding between theactuating lever andslide.

lVhenever excessive pressure is exerted upon .the'lever due to violentactuation thereof or to the resistance of the movement of the slide thespring 47 will yield and permit relative movement between the lever andslide until the lever has reached its limit of movement and thus protectthe door lock mechanism. and the lock actuator-mechanism against damagewhich might otl. erwise be caused by excessive pressures. Means may beprovided to prevent the compression spring .47'from reacting on thecompression spring 33 :which serves to return the slide. To this endslot 46 in the link 41 is so diszPOSBd. that when the mechanism is inthe nor- :mal position shown in F igure 8 of the draw- ..ing the proections 43 and 44 engage the projection 37 of the lever and theprojection 45 of the-slide is in engagement with or :nearly inengagement with the upper end of the slot :46. This serves to hold thespring .47 under a predetermined minimum compression during operationsince it prevents the springfrom expanding farther than is necessary tobring the projection 45 into en- -.ga-geme'nt with the upper end of theslot 46.

The projection 45 being held at all times :against the upper end of theslot 46 except when the lever: is subjected to excessive pressure thespring 47 i cannot react against the .slide 31 to exerta pressurethereon in oppo- --'sition to the return spring 33 except whenm-orethanthe normal operating pressure is r-exer-ted vonthe lever 36.

:The auxiliary counterbalance spring 28 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may 1 besadvantageously employed to counterbalance the weight of the swingingpush bar in the double acting aneel'ianisn'i above described, thefUHCUOIL of the auxiliary spring in this casebeing merely to-relievethemain actuator mechanism of a portion of the-weight of the swingingpush bar permitting a f lighter return spring to beemployed in conlockcasing secured therein,'said casing hav- .ing a lock and a trip memberfor operating the lock, of an opearting device secured to the doorbeneath the lock casing, said operating device comprising a casingsecuredto one face of the door, a slide in said casing having 'aprojection adjacent its upper end adapted to engage the trip member ofthe lock, a spring for moving said slide in one direction and a leverfor moving said slide in opposition to-the spring.

' 2. The combination with a door havinga lock casing secured therein,said casing having a lock and a trip member for operating the lock, ofan operating device for said lock comprising a casing secured to oneface of the door below the lock casing, a slide in saia casing, a spring:1 g"on said slide, an operating member ried by the casing and movablein two directions, connections between said operating member and slide rfor actuating said slide in opposition to itsspring when said operatingmember is moved in either direction, and a projection carried by saidslide at its upper end and adapted to engage the trip member of thelock. I

3. The combination with a door having a lock'casing secured therein,said casing having portions extending through opposite faces of the doorand having a lock therein provided with a trip member by which it maybeoperated, of an operating device comprising a casing secured to one faceof the door to one side of the projecting portion of the lock casingpaslide carried by the casing, a spring acting in one direction on theslide, a lever adapted to move the slide in opposition to the spring anda lock operating projection on the slide engageable with the trip memberof the look.

a. In a device of the character described, the combination with adoorglock having a trip member, of a lock operating device comprising amovable lock operating member having a portion adapted when said memberis moved in one direction to engage the trip member of the look, aspring acting on said operating member, an operating lever, andconnections between said lever and operating member actingto shift saidoperating member in opposition to its spring when the lever is shiftedin either direction, said connections including a spring through whichthe lever acts when moved in either direction.v

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a doorhaving a lock, of a lock actuating mechanism, comprising a slideoperable when shifted in one direc-' tion to releasethe door lock, anactuating lever, and a neinber having a spring'connection with saidslide and operable upon movement of said lever in either direction tooperate said slide through the spring connection in the direction torelease the door lock.

I 6. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a door having a lock, of a lock actuating mechanismcomprising a movable lock actuating member, an actuating lever, a secondlever pivoted to the casing or a link pivoted to the second lever andhaving a spring connection with the lock actuating member and meanscarried by the second lever and link whereby said actuating lever movessaid link and slide in a direction to release the lock upon movement ofthe actuating leverin either direction. I v

' 7. A lock-operating device comprising a movable lock actuating member,an actuating lever, connections between said lever and an actuatingmember whereby actuation of the lever in either direction causes theactuating member to move in adirection to ends of the lever andextending alongside the slide, one or" said links being connected to theslide, transversely extending projections carried by said links, and amovable operating member having a portion extending between saidprojections and engageable with either.

9. A lock actuating device comprising a, casing, a longitudinallymovable slide mounted in the casing, .a spring interposed between theslide and casing, a transversely extendin-g lever pivoted adjacentits'eenter to the casing, links pivoted to opposite ends of the leverand extending alongside the slide, a spring connecting one of said linksto the slide, transversely extending projections carried by the links,and a movable actuating member having a part lying between saidprojections and engageable with either.

,10. A look actuating device comprising a movable lock opera-tingmember, a movable actuating member for shifting the operating member,means for transmitting move- 'ment from the actuating member to theoperating member, comprising a pair of movable parts engageable with theactuating memb-er on opposite sides thereof, said parts being connectedto the slide, and a spring actingupon said parts to normally hold saidparts in engagement with the actuating member.

casing, a longitudinally movable slide mounted in the casing, a springinterposed between the slide and easing, a transversely extendmg leverpivoted ad acent its center to the casing, depending links pivoted toopposite ends of the lever and extending along opposite sides of theslide, one of said links having an inwardly extending projectionadjacent its lower end, the other of said links having a yieldingconnection adjacent its lower end to the slide and a projectionextending inwardly over the projection of the first mentioned link, andan actuating lever having a part extending between said projections.

13. A look actuating device comprising a casing, a longitudinallymovable slide in the casing, a spring interposed between the slide andeasing, an actuating lever for moving the slide in opposition to thelever and a counterbalance spring for the said lever.

14. The combination with .a hinged door having a lock, a lock actuator,comprising a casing secured to the door adjacent the lock, a lockactuating slide in the casing, a return spring interposed between theslide and casing, a lever for actuating the slide in opposition to thesaid spring, a push bar having one end connected to said lever and atits other end to alever pivoted adjacent the hinge edge of the door, anda counterbalance spring acting on said second mentioned lever.

15. A look actuating device comprising amovable lock actuating memberadapted to release the lock upon movement thereof in one direction, anactuating lever, connections between said lever .and actuating memberwhereby actuation of the lever in either direction causes the actuatingmemher to move in a direction to release the lock, said connectionincluding a spring acting to cushion the lever when the same is moved ineither direction, and means for retaining said spring at all times undercompression.

16. A lock operating device comprising a movable lock actuating memberadapted when moved in one direction to release the lock, a springinterposed between the actuating member and casing for normally holdingthe actuating member in inopera tive position with respect to the lock,a lever for moving the actuating member in opposition to its spring, andconnections between the lever and actuating member through which the,actuating member is moved in opposition to its spring upon movement ofthe lever in either direction, a cushioning spring interposed betweenthe actuating member and said operating connections, and means forpreventing said second mentioned spring from reacting upon the actuatingmember in opposition to said first mentioned spring.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM B. BOLLES.

